Apparatus for dispensing and inscribing tape



Nov. 13, 1951' L. D. WALKER APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND I'NSCRIBING TAPE Filed Jan. 12, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 13, 1951 L. D. WALKER APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND INSCRIBING TAPE 2 SHEETS -SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1946 T X A INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND INSCRIBING TAPE Louis D. Walker, Lakewood, Ohio Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,977

12 Claims. v 1

This invention relates to novel apparatus and method of dispensing and inscribing tape which is desired to be used for labeling packages and articles for shipment, identification, and like purposes.

I-Ieretofore it has been common in the labeling of articles and packages, for such purposes, to avail of tape which may be provided with adhesive for securing the same to the package or other article, and which .may be provided in the form of a roll or other suitable condition for handling. The former practice has been to tear off a suitable length of the tape to be used as a label in the particular instance, and then to suitably inscribe the length of tape, which has thus been severed from the main body, with the address of the shipper and consignee, or other identifying indicia, depending upon the purpose for which the labels are to be used.

Such former practice has been unsatisfactory since the dispensing of the tape was not easily handled in this manner, and a table or desk had to be provided to serve as a writing surface on which severed lengths of tape to be used as labels could be inscribed.

Tape dispensing apparatus has heretofore been provided whereby a suitable length of tape was dispensed mechanically and then torn off to be inscribed after severing. It is also recognized that-various forms of autographic register means or apparatus such as illustrated in United States Patent No. 1,621,985 for dispensing a piece of paper from a roll and for facilitating the inscribing thereof as dispensed, have been heretofore provided. Such apparatus, however, does not deal with the problem which I have found to exist in connection with the tape intended to be used. :for labeling articles and packages. In this connection it is to be noted that the labeling of the articles or packages requires use of labels of many different sizes so that where the nature of the articles to be labeled is very diverse, such as, for instance, where very small mechanical parts requiring a label as small as in length are desired to be labeled at one moment, and much larger packages are desired to be labeled for shipment the next moment, it is not feasible to provide apparatus which dispenses a standard size of label.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a more efflcient method and apparatus for facilitating the dispensing and inscribing of tape intended to be used for labeling purposes, having in mind the peculiar requirementsin this connection.

An important feature of the invention, in so far as the apparatus is concerned, involves the provision of a movable writing surface, and means for causing a tape to be disposed upon said surface as the latter is moved, the movement of said writing surface causing the labeling tape to be disposed upon said surface in condition to be inscribed while the tape is in contact with said surface.

In carrying the invention into practice, I provide means for connecting the labeling tape to the movable Writing surface whereby the tape so connected will be dispensed by movement of said writing surface.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed I provide an adhesive labeling tape in the form of a roll, and means for rotatively supporting said roll of adhesive tape, the tape having one surface coated with an adhesive substance which preferably requires no moistening or wetting in order to cause it to adhere to any surface with which it is pressed into contact. The free end of this adhesive labeling tape is adapted to be adhesively connected to the movable writing surface, whereby, upon movement of said writing surface the labeling tape so adhesively connected thereto, is caused to be unrolled and disposed upon the writing surface in condition to be inscribed while in contact therewith.

To assist in producing this result, I provide means in the form of a roller positioned adjacent the movable writing surface for engaging adhesive tape so connected to said movable writing surface as the tape is unrolled by movement of said surface, and pressing the tape into adhesive connection with the surface.

I further provide, in connection with the apparatus, adjustable cutting means, whereby, after a suitable length of labeling tape has been unrolled and disposed upon the movable writing surface by movement thereof and inscribed while in contact therewith, such desired length of labeling tape may be severed from the roll by lifting the tape from the movable writing surface into contact with the cutting means.

Means are also provided for imparting movement to the movable writing surface and for adjustment of the means for pressing the labeling tape into adhesive contact with the movable writing surface. In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the means for supporting the roll of adhesive tape comprises slotted guide bearings for supporting the ends of the roll or spindle, whereby the same may be concontact with the movable writing surface and severing the portion of tape so inscribed.

My method and machine, in another. aspect,

involves the dispensing of a tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof, con

nected by pressing the adhesive side in'contact with a pulling dispensing member or surface, which need not be a writing surface, if inscribing of the tape'is not required Other objects and advantages of" the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional'view illustrating one embodiment of the apparatus. of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view o'fthe apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectionalview taken about on the line 3-3 of Figure 1'.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken about on the line li of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken about on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional'view taken about on the line 85 of Figure 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views of the cutting means and provisions for adjustment of the same, Figure '7 being'in section.

Now referring to the drawing, and describing the embodiment of the apparatus there shown, in detail, the numeral 1 indicates a casing. adapted to enclose a supply of labeling tape and to substantially enclose the movable writing surface with the exception. of that portion thereof which is exposed to permit inscribing the labeling tape disposed thereon. The movable writing surface indicated by the numeral 2 comprises an endless belt preferably of. flexible or resilient material such as leather or the like. The belt or movable writing surface 2' is turned over rollers 3 respectively, the ends of which spindles are emplaced in suitable bearing openings provided inthe side walls 5' and 8 of the casing I; The side Wall 3 is removably securable to the remainder of the casing l by means of bolts 9 for facilitating the assembling of the ends of the spindles 5 and t in the bearing openings provided in the side walls 'I and 8. of the casing. The rollers 3 and t are preferably made of rubher or other suitable resilient materialfor better frictional engagement with the belt ormovable writing surface 2. A-crank it] may be operatively connected to the spindle 6, as shown, whereby to rotate a roller 4 and thereby impart movement to the writing surface 2. The side members 1 and 8 of the casing l are provided with projecting slotted guide brackets H having socket portions i la for receiving the. ends of the spool l2 upon which the roll of labeling tape iii is wound. By the provision of the slotted guide bearing elements I l the spool 12 containand i'mounted upon spindles 5i and 6,.

ing the roll of tape I 3 may be easily placed in position rotatably supported by said guide bearing elements, and the spool may readily be removed therefrom when the labeling tape 13 has been completely unrolled therefrom. To facilitate the emplacing of the spool l2 and the roll of tape l3 a top or cover element I4 on the casing Iis hinged as at l5 to the remainder of the casing.

Mounted to the side members land 8 of the casing and positioned above the belt 2 adjacent the roller 3 is a roller means I6 which is adapted to cooperate with'the portion l3a of the labeling tapebeing unrolled from the spool said roller means; I6 acting to press the portion 13a of the tape into engagement with the writing surface -2-asthe-latter is=moved over the rollers 3 and 4 inaclockwise direction, having reference to Figure 1. The roller means l6 comprises a roller I'i rotatably mounted on bracketsv l8 pivotally connectedas'at I9 to the sidewallsland Bof the casing. Oifstanding inwardlyfrom' the-side walls 7 and 8' ofthe casing arelugs 2t} suitablythreadedfor the reception of adjusting'screws 2 I, the lower ends of which are threadingly connected'to the pivoted? brackets [8 whereby, the brackets maybe adjusted upwardly or downwardly around their pivots by adjustment of the screws 2! for adjustment" of thetension with which the roller l I may engage the'tape' l3'a with the writing surface 2 The above mentioned'labeling'tape I3 is preferably an adhesive tape having its underside I31)",

namely, the side whichiis adapted'to be'brought' into contact with the movableiwritinggsurface 2;; coated with an adhesive substance which does not" require that it be moistened. or wettedin order to cause itto adhere to'the'movable. writing surface when brought'int'o contacttherewith. Thistype of adhesive coating is preferablyjofsuch a nature that it willremain in adhesive connection with any surface with which it is" placed in contact, foran" indefiniteperiod; yet which will permit'the adhesive-tape tob'e disengaged fromthe surface with which it has beenadhesively'connected without" tearing of the-tape in the course of such disengagement; coating may be referred; toas'a permanently recontact sensitive'adhesive' coating; that is, acoating which remains'permanently in re-sensitive' condition tocause adhesion-upon re-contact.

A supporting or backing element 22 is carried by the side members 1' and-8' of the casing I in a position to'engagethe-underside of the belt 2 soas to support that portion of' the writing surface 2 which is exposed for access from Without the casing I; The-purposeof thisbackingelement 22'is to provide additionalsupport for that" part of thewriting surface Tin -contact"therewithand upon which disposedtheportion I30 of justably mounted to the inclined portion, 23 of the casing. For the allottedpurpose the knife.

blade 24 is provided withislotszflbi' through which are adapted to extend; adjusting screws 25, on

which are mounted platesor' washerszfiengaging the blade 24. The slots 24?: enable. theblade to be adjusted both verticallyand'laterally relative This type of adhesive to the inclined portion 23 of the casing when the adjusting screws 25 are unloosened, and after such adjustment the screws 25 may be tightened was to maintain the knife blade 24 in the desired position of adjustment. The inclined position of the knife blade 24 is most effective to facilitate the clean severance of the desired portion of the labeling tape to be used as a label after it has been inscribed.

In the use of the apparatus of the invention, the free end 13d of the adhesive labeling tape is unrolled from the spool I2 and adhesively connected to a portion of the movable writing surface 2 adjacent the roller 3. Thereupon, the crank I0 is operated to rotate the roller 4 to move the writing surface 4 in a clockwise direction over the rollers 3 and 4, having reference to Figure 1. This causes the labeling tape to be unrolled from the spool l2 and to be disposed upon the writing surface 2 into position to be inscribed while in contact therewith. The roller means [6 serves to cause the portion l3a of the labeling tape to be pressed into firm and smooth engagement and adhesive connection with the movable writing surface 2 as the labeling tape is unrolled from the spool l2 by movement of the movable writing surface 2. When a suitable length [30 of the labeling tape has been dispensed by being disposed in a position upon the movable writing surface in which it is accessible to be inscribed from a position outside of the casing, movement of the writing surface 2 will be stopped and the exposed portion l3c of the labeling tape will be inscribed by writing thereon with a pen or pencil while the labeling tape is supported by the movable writing surface 2 which is in turn additionally supported by the backing element 22 thus facilitating the inscribing operation.

It will be apparent that in the foregoing manner only the desired length of labeling tape which is intended to be used for a label of predetermined desired size, will be exposed beyond the position of the knife blade 24 into condition to be inscribed. When that portion of the labeling tape which is to be used for the particular label has been disposed in the manner indicated, and suitably inscribed, it will now be severed from the remaining supply of labeling tape by lifting the portion 130 thereof from the writing surface 2 to disengage it from adhesive connection therewith, and thereby engage the labeling tape with the cutting edge of the knife blade 24 to sever the portion I30 from the remaining supply of labeling tape.

Under some conditions, when the tape [3 is to be used after the manner of an ordinary adhesive tape (not for labeling but merely as an adherent connecting web), the belt or surface 2 will act as a pulling member to which the tape will be connected by pressure adhering contact produced by the roller I1. When the tape 13 is dispensed by pulling action of the member 2, it may be merely torn off and applied to articles by secondary pressure of its adhesive surface as a connecting or sealing tape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus of the class described for dispensing and inscribing labeling tape, comprising, in combination, a movable writing surface comprising an endless belt, a supporting member over which the belt passes and supportingly cooperable with a portion of the belt on which the tape is to be disposed, means for causing movement of said surface, and means for causing a labeling tape to be disposed upon said surface as the latter is moved, movement of said surface causing the said tape to be disposed upon said surface in condition to be inscribed while in contact therewith.

' 2. Apparatus of the class described for dispensing and inscribing labeling tape, comprising, in combination, a movable writing surface comprising. an endless belt, a supporting member over which the belt passes and supportingly cooperable with a portion of the belt on which the tape is to be disposed, means for causing movement of said surface, means for imparting movement to said writing surface, and means for connecting a labeling tape to said writing surface as the latter is moved, the movement of said surface causing the tape so connected to be disposed upon said surface in condition to be inscribed while in contact therewith.

3. Apparatus of the class described for dispensing and inscribing labeling tape, comprising, in combination, a movable Writing surface comprising an endless belt and a supporting member over which the belt passes and supportingly cooperable with the portion of the belt on which the tape is to be disposed, means for causing movement of said surface, with an adhesive labeling tape positioned adjacent said surface for pressing said tape into adhesive connection with said belt as the latter is moved, whereby movement of said surface Will cause said tape so connected to be disposed upon said surface in condition to be inscribed while in contact therewith.

4. Apparatus of the class described for dispensing and inscribing labeling tape, comprising, in combination, a movable Writing surface comprising an endless belt, a supporting member over which the belt passes and supportingly cooperable with a portion of the belt on which the tape is to be disposed, means for causing movement of said surface, means for causing a labeling tape to be disposed upon said surface as the latter is moved, movement of said surface causing the said tape to be disposed upon said surface in condition 'to be inscribed while in contact therewith, and cutting means for severing a portion of the labeling tape from the main body thereof,

said cutting means being arranged adjacent the point of entrance of the tape onto the movable Writing surface so as to sever the portion disposed onthe writing surface from the main body of the tape.

5. Apparatus of the class described for dispensing and inscribing labeling tape, comprising, in combination, a movable writing surface comprising an endless belt, means forimparting movement to said surface, a supply of adhesivelycoated labeling tape coated with a permanently re-contact sensitive adhesive substance, means cooperable with said tape and positioned adjacent said surface for pressing said tape into adhesive connection with said surface as the latter is moved, movement of said surface causing said tape to be disposed in adhesively connected relation to said surface in condition to be inscribed while so disposed, and means cooperable with the portion of said writing surface upon which the tape is so disposedfor rigidifying that portion of said surface.-

'6. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, 'a pair of roller members rotatably mounted on said frame, an endless belt passing about said roller members in frictional ass-4,674 it one of the roller members for causing rotation thereof and consequent movement of said endless belt around said roller members, and means cooperable with an adhesively coated tape coated with a permanently recontact sensitive adhesive. substance, and positioned adjacent said belt for pressingsaid'tape into adhesive connection with saidbelt as the latter is moved, whereby movement of said belt will cause said tape to be.- dis.- posed upon saidbelt in tight adhesive connection therewith.

7. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of roller members. rotatably mounted onsaidframe, an endless'belt. passing about said roller members in frictional engagement therewith, means associated with one of the roller members for causing rotation.

thereof'and consequent movement of said'endless belt around said roller members, means. for 130.- tatably supporting adjacent said belt, a roll of adhesively coated tape coated with a: permanently recontact sensitive adhesive substance, and tension roller means comprising a roller member positioned adjacent to said belt for pressing. said tape into adhesive connection with said belt as the latter is moved, whereby movement of said belt will cause said tape so connected to be disposed uponsaid belt.

8. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, a pairv of roller members. rotatably mounted on said frame, an endless belt passing about said roller members in frictional engagement therewith, means associated with one of the roller members for causing rotation thereof. and consequent movement ofsaid endless belt around said roller members, means-for rotatably supporting adjacent said belt a roll of ad-- hesively coated tape coated with a permanently recontact sensitive adhesive substance, and tension roller means comprising an arm pivotedrto said frame, a roller member pivotally mounted on said arm, and adjusting means carriedby said.

frame and cooperating with said arm, said roller member. being positioned adjacent said belt for pressing said tape into adhesive connection with said belt as the latter is moved, whereby movement of said belt will cause said tape soconnected to be disposed upon said belt in tight adhesive connection therewith,

the roller member relative to said belt.

9. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in

combination, a frame, a pair of roller members.

ried by said frame and cooperating with said...

arm, said roller member being positionedadjacent said belt for pressing said: tape. into adhesive connection with said belt as the, latter is;

moved, whereby movement of said belt will causesaid tape so connected to be disposed upon said belt in tight adhesive connection therewlth said said adjusting means being adjustable to alter the position of adjusting means being adjustable to alter the position of the roller member relative to. said belt, and cutting means arranged adjacent. the point of entrance of the tape onto said belt, said cutting means being operable to sever the portion of tape disposed on said belt from the main body of the tape.

10-. Apparatus of the class described for dispensing and inscribing labeling tape, comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of roller members rotatably mounted on said frame, a movable.

writing surface comprising an endless belt passing about said rollers in frictional engagement therewith, a supporting member over which the belt passes and supportingly cooper-able with a portion of the belt on which the tape is to be disposed, means associated with one of the roller members for causing rotation thereof and consequent movement of said endless belt around said roller members, and means cooper-able with adhesive labeling tape positioned adjacent said belt for pressing said tape into adhesive connection with said belt as the latter is moved, whereby movement of said belt will cause said tape to be disposed thereon in tight adhesive connection therewith in condition to be inscribed while so disposed on said belt over said supporting member.

11. Apparatus of the class described for dispensing and inscribing labeling tape, comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of roller members rotatably mounted on said frame, a movable writingsurface comprising an endless belt-passing about said rollers in frictional engagement therewith, a supporting member overwhich the belt passes and supportingly cooperable with a portion of the belt on which the tape is to be disposed, means associated with one of the roller members for causing rotation thereof and consequent movement of said endless belt around said roller members, and means for connecting said tape to said surface as the latter is moved, whereby movement of said surface will cause said tape so connected to be disposed upon said surface in condition to be inscribed while in contact therewith over said supporting member.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, combinedwith cutting means for severing a portion of the labeling tape from the main body thereof,

said cutting means being arranged adjacent the point of entrance of the tape onto the movable writing surface so as to sever the portion disposed on the writing surface from the main body of the tape, said cutting means comprising a .,blade arranged in a plane at an angle to the plane of the tape disposed upon said writing surface.

LOUIS D. WALKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,702 Baer Feb. 17, 1891 629,241 Dick July 18, 1899 1,233,889 Lengemann July 17, 1917 2,152,866 Bozung Apr; 4, 1939 2,194,309 Krueger Mar. 19, 1940 2,308,464 Gautier Jan. 12, 1943 2,468,619 Franke Apr. 26, 1949 

